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mained poised as Yoritomo tried vainly to steady

his shaking hands. The suspense became unbearable. Most of those

watching thought the Shogun would throw down the sword, but Kamakura

knew the blow would fall. Failure to act would have resulted in

irretrievable loss of face. Ieyasu had goaded the young Shogun beyond

endurance, and the old fox had done so deliberately in order to avoid a

slower and more agonising death by torture. Traditionally a public

spectacle, it was, for a nobleman, the ultimate humiliation.

Ieyasu grasped his long staff in both hands and raised it threateningly

The blade flashed forward, piercing him through the abdomen. Once.

Twice. The Chamberlain gasped, but did not cry out. He sank slowly to

his knees, clutching the wounds. Blood gushed out between his

fingers.

'You fool!" he croaked. 'You blind fool! You have thrown everything

away. It is not me you should have killed...

it is these. worthless. creatures that. surround you!" His last

words fell on deaf ears. Yoritomo handed the blood-stained sword back

to Kamakura. 'Behead him .... ' The Guard Captain did so with one

swift, precisely-aimed stroke as the dying Chamberlain toppled

forward.

YoritOmo stared down at the severed head of his mentor then kicked it

aside as he led Lady Mishiko out of the room. Two of his bodyguards

ran ahead of him and slid the door-panels aside. As he passed through,

Yoritomo turned back.

Everyone bowed.

'Captain Kamakura!" 'Sire...?"

'These rooms are to be sealed and guarded until a thorough search for

incriminating documents can be organised."

'Yes, sire!" 'All members of the Lord Chamberlain's staff, from those

who hold high office to the lowest of his servants, his appointees

within the palace, his gaming cronies and female procurers are to be

arrested, put in chains, and placed in close confinement. I want them

all under lock and key before dawn."

Yoritomo pointed to Ieyasu's crestfallen bodyguard. 'And you can

start with these insolent swine! Is that understood?"

'Perfectly!" 'Good. Report to me when it is done."

'And the long-dog envoys, sire?"

'Seize them too! We will show their masters what happens to those who

seek to enslave us with the Dark Light! And throw this pair in with

them!" Roz and Cadillac looked at each other in dismay as their arms

were seized by four of Kamakura's men. Being tossed in the slammer had

not been part of the plan ....

CHAPTER TWELVE

Surrounded by his bodyguard and a dozen soldiers from the Shield Unit,

the Shogun and Lady Mishiko swept out of the dead Chamberlain's

apartments, leaving Captain Kamakura and twenty of his men to carry out

his orders. Kamakura, shocked by the speed of events, found himself in

something of a dilemma.

Jailing Secretary Ichiwara and Ieyasu's six guards was a simple,

straightforward matter, likewise the seizure of the. envoys in the

North Tower. They might protest, but would offer no resistance - but

how was he to deal with the two spirit-witches whom the Shogun had

taken to be painted long-dogs!

When they had removed their masks in Lady Mishiko's audience chamber,

he had seen their gnarled grey faces change shape and colour - becoming

smooth-boned grass-monkeys in the twinkling of an eye! It was widely

believed they could turn ordinary mortals who offended them into all

manner of birds, animals and insects.

Kamakura had no wish to anger them but when the Shogun gave an order,

he had to obey. What on earth, he asked himself, was he to do?

Lady Mishiko had not told him what was to happen after they had played

their part in exposing Lord Ieyasu's treachery, but he could not

believe she intended them to be locked in a prison cell!

Kamakura clasped his hands behind his back and wandered back and forth